914  Tango and Martial Arts

Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 07:17:37 -0800
From: Mark Rector <rmarkrector@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Tango and Martial Arts

Stephen Brown wrote:
"The martial arts to provide a basis for understanding
movement, but I am not sure how much they help with
leading and following skills."

When I began dancing Tango, I was immediately struck
by the similarities between Tango and European martial
arts. The passing steps, isolation of upper and lower
body, pivots, giros, sacadas, projection of center,
etc., of Tango mirror centuries-old traditions in
European swordsmanship and Western martial arts.

As for martial arts helping with leading and following
- a good fencer or martial artist must be adept at
manipulating his "partner" in space, and moving in
concert with him. All of this helps with Tango... at
least, it helped me!

Cheers! -Mark

=====

Mark Rector
Editor & Translator, MEDIEVAL COMBAT
Editor, HIGHLAND SWORDSMANSHIP & HIGHLAND BROADSWORD

Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 12:11:36 -0500
From: Manuel Patino <white95r@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tango and Martial Arts

> As for martial arts helping with leading and following
> - a good fencer or martial artist must be adept at
> manipulating his "partner" in space,

It might also prove very useful with the clouts that elbow you or your
partner on the side of the head too, or in dealing with those inconsiderate
"high boleo terrorists" on the dance floor ;-)